Almost 400 more deaths than normal were recorded in France during the heatwave that hit 52 departments from 11 to 26 August, according to estimates by the French public health agency, Santé publique France.
“Almost 400 excess deaths from all causes (+5.4%) were estimated during this heatwave in the departments concerned,” the health agency said on Wednesday in a statement. People aged 75 and over were the group worst affected.
Heatwaves, a phenomenon whose frequency is amplified by global warming, are defined as periods of prolonged, uninterrupted heat lasting several days.
The impact on mortality varies from one département to another, due in particular to the heatwave's duration, its intensity, the period in which it occurs, and the type of population affected.
These estimates are still preliminary in several respects. They are based, for example, on mortality data that are not yet complete.
Above all, they do not accurately assess deaths directly caused by heatwaves. For the time being, they can only indicate the extent to which the total number of deaths exceeded normal levels during this period.
In Autumn, Santé publique France will publish a consolidated assessment of the health impact of the various heatwaves and, more generally, of the French population’s exposure to extreme heat, throughout the 2023 summer period.
